Operations Manager

ELIS; Leicester; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Private medical cover

Company pension - 5% employer

Life assurance

Career progression

33 Days Holiday

Job summary

Elis UK is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for our Leicester site to lead production operations, develop the team and drive continuous improvement across the site.

You will report to the General Manager, manage budgets, collaborate with engineering, logistics and service teams, and deliver safety, quality and cost targets in a fast-paced production environment.

Working pattern is 7:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday, with flexibility to meet operational needs.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within production, manufacturing or service operations.
• Experience building and developing high-performing teams in fast-paced environments.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting and resource planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage production operations, ensuring efficient processes and high standards.
• Develop and coach the production management team to perform at a high level.
• Collaborate with engineering, logistics, service and textile teams to maximise site performance.
• Contribute to operational strategy, improvement plans and capital investments.
• Monitor KPIs, analyze trends and take corrective actions for excellence.
• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure policy compliance.

Skills

Leadership experience

People development

Operational performance

Budgeting & forecasting

Communication skills

Data-driven decisions

Education

Degree-level qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Monday to Friday, 7:00am - 3:00pm, with flexibility required to support the operational needs of the business.

• Leicester
• Full-time
• Permanent

About Elis

About a career with Elis

At Elis, we're more than a leading provider of textile, hygiene and facility services. We're an international business helping organisations across a wide range of industries operate safely, efficiently and sustainably.

With a presence in 31 countries and nearly 59,000 employees worldwide, we offer the strength and stability of a global organisation, combined with the opportunity to make a real impact and build a rewarding career.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We believe in creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed. From investing in professional development to recognising individual contributions, we're committed to helping our people grow and achieve their ambitions.

We're proud of the recognition we've received for our commitment to people, sustainability and responsible business practices:

• World's Best Companies - Recognised among the world's leading employers, reflecting our commitment to building a great place to work.
• EcoVadis Platinum Medal - Recognition of our commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
• CIPD People Management Awards 2024 - Elis UK won Best Employee Engagement Experience Initiative for our Employee Voice programme, recognising our commitment to listening to our people and acting on their feedback.

Whether you're building your career in operations, engineering, logistics, sales or one of our support functions, you'll be joining a business that values teamwork, encourages new ideas and provides opportunities to develop and progress.

At Elis, you're not just joining a business. You're joining a team where your contribution matters and your career can grow.

The Opportunity

We're looking for an experienced and driven Operations Manager to join our team in Leicester and play a key role in driving operational performance, developing our people and delivering continuous improvement across our site.

This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‑on operational leader who thrives in a fast‑paced production environment and is passionate about delivering results through people, processes and performance.

What You'll Be Doing

Reporting directly to the General Manager, you'll take responsibility for leading and continually improving our production operations, ensuring we deliver against our commitments for safety, quality, service and cost.

You'll lead and develop our production management team, working closely with engineering, logistics, service and other key functions to maximise site performance and embed a collaborative, high‑performing culture.

As a key member of the site's leadership team, you'll also contribute to operational strategy, business improvement plans and future investment decisions.

• Operational Leadership: Lead and manage production operations, ensuring efficient processes, strong performance and consistently high standards.
• Continuous Improvement: Implement Elis Production Essentials and drive initiatives that improve productivity, efficiency and operational effectiveness.
• People Management: Inspire, coach and develop your management teams, building a culture of accountability, engagement and high performance.
• Health & Safety: Champion a safety‑first culture, ensuring compliance with company policies, procedures and relevant legislation.
• Financial Performance: Manage operational budgets, forecast resource requirements and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.
• Customer Delivery: Ensure production activities consistently meet customer expectations for quality, service and delivery.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, logistics, service and textile teams to resolve challenges and deliver shared objectives.
• Strategic Planning: Support the General Manager with operational planning, capital investment proposals and site improvement initiatives.
• Performance Management: Monitor operational KPIs, analyse trends and implement corrective actions to achieve operational excellence.
• Sustainability: Support initiatives that reduce environmental impact, including improving energy efficiency and resource utilisation.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced operational leader who combines strong commercial awareness with a genuine passion for people development and continuous improvement.

You’ll Ideally Bring

• Proven leadership experience within production, manufacturing, supply chain or service operations.
• Experience managing and developing high‑performing teams in a fast‑paced operational environment.
• A strong understanding of operational performance, budgeting, forecasting and resource planning.
• A track record of implementing continuous improvement initiatives and delivering measurable results.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with the confidence to use data to drive decisions.
• Experience working with ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• A proactive, customer‑focused approach and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.
• A degree‑level qualification or equivalent practical experience within a manufacturing or process‑driven environment.

Desirable

• Knowledge or experience of Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
• NEBOSH qualification or equivalent.
• Experience delivering operational transformation or improvement programmes.

What We Offer

At Elis, we believe great people should be recognised, supported and given the opportunity to grow. In return for the impact you'll make, you'll receive a strong benefits package and the opportunity to build a long‑term career within an established international business.

• Salary of up to £70,000
• Performance‑related bonus
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays - giving you time to switch off and recharge.
• Private medical cover - supporting your health and wellbeing.
• Company pension - 5% employer contribution alongside 5% employee contribution.
• Life assurance - providing additional peace of mind for you and your family.
• Genuine career progression - opportunities to develop your career across Elis UK and our wider international business.
• Long‑term stability - joining an established, successful international organisation.
• A role where you can make an impact - with the autonomy to influence people strategy, partner with senior leaders and shape organisational performance.
• A supportive, collaborative culture - where your ideas, expertise and contribution are valued.
• 33 Days Holiday
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical

Interested? If you're an experienced Operations Manager who enjoys developing people, improving processes and delivering operational excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

Elis UK is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Working Pattern: 7AM until 3PM - Monday to Friday, with flexibility required to meet the operational needs of the business.